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Yeung KA, Chai PR, Russell BL, Erickson TB. Avian Toxins and Poisoning Mechanisms. J Med Toxicol 2022; 18:321-333. [PMID: 35474563 PMCID: PMC9492810 DOI: 10.1007/s13181-022-00891-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
All around the world, there are species of birds that have developed the ability to acquire toxic chemicals in their bodies making them less palatable or even lethal when consumed or contacted. Exposure to poisonous bird species is rare among humans, yet their poisons can produce serious clinical outcomes. In this study, we conducted a literature search focusing on seven avian species: the pitohuis (Pitohui spp.), blue-capped ifrita (Ifrita kowaldi), European quail (Cortunix corturnix coturnix), spur or spoor-winged goose (Plectropterus gambensis), North American ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), Brush bronzewings (Phaps elegans), and European hoopoes and woodhoopoes (Upupa epops and Phoeniculus purpureus, respectively). We present the geographic distribution of each poisonous bird, toxin physiology and origin, clinical signs and symptoms of poisoning, cases of human toxicity if available and discuss the birds’ ability to prevent self-intoxication. Our results suggest that most cases of contact with toxic birds produce mild symptoms as most of these birds apart from the European quail (C. c. corturnix) and North American ruffed grouse (B. umbellus) are not commonly consumed by humans. Furthermore, we discuss several methods of toxin acquisition in these bird species, which are mostly diet acquired apart from the hoopoes and woodhoopoes (Upupa and Phoeniculus spp.) who have a symbiotic relationship with chemical-producing bacteria in their uropygial glands. In summary, our study provides a comprehensive review of the toxic physiology, clinical manifestations, and evolutionary insight to avian toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara A Yeung
- Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (HAEMR) Program, Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter R Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, Mass General Brigham, Vining St. Neville House Boston, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,The Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Division of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brendan L Russell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, Mass General Brigham, Vining St. Neville House Boston, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Timothy B Erickson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, Mass General Brigham, Vining St. Neville House Boston, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Harvard Humanitarian Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Ligabue-Braun R, Carlini CR. Poisonous birds: A timely review. Toxicon 2015; 99:102-8. [PMID: 25839151 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2015] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Until very recently, toxicity was not considered a trait observed in birds, but works published in the last two decades started to shed light on this subject. Poisonous birds are rare (or little studied), and comprise Pitohui and Ifrita birds from Papua New Guinea, the European quail, the Spoor-winged goose, the Hoopees, the North American Ruffed grouse, the Bronzewings, and the Red warbler. A hundred more species are considered unpalatable or malodorous to humans and other animals. The present review intends to present the current understanding of bird toxicity, possibly pointing to an ignored research field. Whenever possible, biochemical characteristics of these poisons and their effects on humans and other animals are discussed, along with historical aspects of poison discovery and evolutionary hypothesis regarding their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Ligabue-Braun
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Prédio 43431, Sala 214, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Célia Regina Carlini
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Prédio 43431, Sala 214, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto do Cérebro (InsCer), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 6690, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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